Compression and heat exchange apparatus



` l.. H. ALLEN, JR

coMPREssIoN HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1952 -E Ir May 18, 1954 mw, E

l INVENTOR. I YMAN H. ALLEN, JR.

. Y rma A'rTvcvFeNl-:Ys`

Patented May 18, 1954 COMPRESSIGNiAND HEATEXCHAN APPARATUS Application Marchi-.5,-.1952fSeral No`275,005 10 .lCIil'Il'SlsA (Cl. 100.'.-93

Thisi.nventiontgrelates.:toy a. compression;- and' heatiexchangc.apparatus-.and is-.particularlyfcone` cernedn, with an; i apparatus for simultaneouslyj*` compressingnarrd; changing the itemperatureloa; material in the form of a massiof:relatively;small;, 5 compressble` -`particles-.fA

In` the :productionmof i alkali zcelluloseftbyfrcertainl processes.; thegalkali cellulose.` is :obtained `in the; formppo` a;1mass;of relatively;small,.come

pressibleparticlesthat are at an elevated `tem-L t i perature:i.andihavefa` lowwbulk idensity=` t Tofpre-fpare .theialkalicellulose :for furtherfuse, the same'.- must; be^f.cco1edn.;and itaabulk densityfincreased.,, the `.ifIattBratosimplify the` :handlingglanrl -further treatment; of. .the ,alkali:celluloseL Inf .the .interest 1 offeconomyf-the.` cooling,` andcompression ot-the s alkalioelluloseparticles should be eiectedsimul.` taneouslyrf While i certain typesof# apparatus.. have previouslywbeensuggested,toaceomplish the cooling.iandfcompression;oaJ mass ofwalkalitcellulose cparticleagthey; have g operated :at low ein: ciency .andlihave tbeenaextremelyrlarge and. bulkra Itf` is..an timportant .object ofjthis., invention toprovide angapparatusfforismultaneouslyom# pressingrandchanging 'the `temperatureof 'al mar,- terial finithe formof.a.mass.;nf relativelyismall; 1 compressiblej)` particlcswhich Willbe yfree `from the foregoing gand.lothercdisadyantages; A further; object `otthis.-inizention. is.` `to i providels anapparatusfor. simultaneouslycompressingandA changingfithegf `temperature iofgzaimaterialazin; the. form ofA a; massfof.^` relatively small;` Acompressilole ai particlesfz, which a Will` .operate q-.at Lhighceffciencygsi and: :beorelatively` smalband: light.

Otlieraob'j eotsiof; invention, fftogetherswith.; certanrdetails" of. constructions-and ;combinatons. L:l of.;parts,rwil1 bezfapparent,l from fthe; `following-gr detailedrdescriptoniandsclaimslw According to.;` the@ presentrinventonr.- there` fis@ provided anY apparatuswcomprsng :aacylindrcaltlo shellihaving., afrotatablershaft extending axially.: thereof.:` Mounted: ion .the shaftfiinternallyfandxf; concentricallyzrof ithescylindrical shell is fagzcylinifgl drcal memberc-haying; a: .helical screwextendin12,2.;A aroundA the tperiphery vthereoi; and almost Linto f f con tact :with: the: interioniaofsithe :1 cylindrical shell,` i. the .a cylindricalv shellV andy cylindricalw` member?` formingf ani i annular passageway; Means, j ASuche as 1 a i th'opper, are L- provided .for :.tintroducingfgfthe alkalifcel-lulose particles intox;said.f.1passagewayf;- betweensthe .cylindrical-.1 shell .and fthe icylihdrica i member and fthe.:f alkali; :cellulose a: particleszs` area: adapted :to lbei4 moved..tlirough'4.thev said annula passagewayironr thefffeed` end tothe,.'.dis'charger;`` end` of thex-zapparatusfbymthe; rotationffof .thehelewV cal, screw: Tomoolfthez-alkalicelluloseparticles#l therex'zisi.provided` 1a.;secondr cylinfdricali memberei: positioned internally.; andi.concentrically'f of1;,;th.e firstfcylindrcalmemberrand whchfformsiiwit said rstzcylndricalmembemaniannulampassagea.

'tot

Way; throughwhich a `coolingiluidfsuch as Water-,p may vbe caused. to flow in `heat exchange .relation-4 with `the i alkali .cellulose particles. TheY cooling;4A iluid maybe introduced into f the saidnannular passagewaythroughthe rotatable shaf t and may be discharged from 'the annular passage-Way,y for examplei-by means of-.a sleeve communicating.` therewith` and positioned fconoentr-icallyV of= the rotatable shaft.

After-the alkali cellulose :particles are cooled :to the: desired temperature; they are compressed;y by-f being .forced through an annular passageway; oil graduallyv` diminishing `cross-sectionaluiarea `-atrthedischarge endfof theapparatus; The annular;` passagewaygmay," for example,4 be: formed tof, af.I pair.; of inwardly-inclined frusto -fconical` mem-v mers that .arerpositionedto receive .the-.cooled'. alkali, cellulose particles Vancl ,are yieldably .urged relatively` toward eachyf. other. by 1 any i suitable.; means.` The cross-sectional area of theannular." passageway tends to decrease becausepfthe-,ine ward -taper of .said frusto-oonical lmembers. L. Inxfl addition; further to control the :crossesectional area oiggthe ,sadnannular passageway,. the: taper oi` the two frusto-conical members .may`- (be differ-1V ent.' Theedegree of compression of the-alkali cellulose particlespwillp depend onnthenchange gin the cross-*sectional area of the passageway@ throughwhich `theyepass` and alsoaon .th'exforcei: withi Whichthefrustofconical members are `yields i ablyfurged relatively toward each other: ToJur-` nishl theqnecessaryiforce there may be ,#provded; a duid-.operated cylinder operativelyfconnectedto^l a irustofconical menfiber.` and urging saidmemberzf ftowardrthe other.:` Affluid-operatedcylinder?.isi.:j

sutedlor ,this rpurpose `because itsv forcer may ,beu readily .varied and'it Vmayybezdesignleol so .that its force :.swillljremain constant despite movement-of ,r the C frustoeconical member secured, :thereto: B'y;

havingfthex frusto-.concal members .z taper fr ine;

wisxopensat its..clischa'rge end andi closedjatlits feeds endy by .meansnofa Iplate .21 Adjacentitss-feerl-i-` emzk-utheY cylindrical shellglll .is provided-Iwtlfiiasfr hopper I3 that leads to an entrance openingen]Il.;` throughiwhichf` the falkali:cellulosei'particles may beain-troduced :intotheanteriorV ofisaidicyllndrcala 3 shell. Adjacent its discharge end, there is fastened to the cylindrical shell ii a framework i5 having an enlarged portion it axially spaced from the discharge end of said cylindrical shell. A shaft, indicated generally by reference numeral il, extends axially of the cylindrical shell l l and is mounted for rotation in bearings i8 and i9 supported by the plate i2 and the enlarged portion iii of the frame i5, respectively. `The shaft il is made of two parts, one of which comprises a rod 2 i mounted in the bearing it?, which has a bore 22 extending axially thereof, and a plurality of apertures 23 extending radially therethrough and communicating with the bore 22. The other part of the shaft il' comprises a pipe-like member 2t projecting through the bear-l ing i8 and extending into the axial bore 22 ci the rod 2i to which rod the member 2d is suitably arlixed. A sleeve 25 encircles the member 2li adjacent the feed end of the tubular shell il, and the said sleeve Vextends through and is rotatably mounted in the bearing iii. The sleeve 25 is concentric with and spaced from the meniber 2li and is welded thereto at one end as shown at 2S, the weld extending around the entire cirn i.

through, and to the left of, the pulley 2l', as 2" shown in the drawing, and is provided, at the left, with a suitable drain (not shown).

Positioned concentrically within the cylindrical shell i l and spaced therefrom is a cylindrical member 28 which is closed adjacent the feed end of the apparatus by means of an end plate 29 fastened to the sleeve 25. The said cylindrical member 28 is also closed adjacent the discharge end of theY apparatus by means of a plate Sli which is fastened to the rod 2l. rlhe cylindrical shell il and the cylindrical member 2t form an annular passageway 3l within which there is provided a helical screw 32 of uniform pitch extending around the periphery of the cylindrical member 23 and of such dimension that it is almost in contact with the interior of the cylindrical shell il and which will, when the cylindrical member 23 is rotated in one direction, cause the alkali cellulose particles to move through said annular passageway 3i from the feed end to the discharge end of the apparatus.

A second cylindrical member 33 is positioned internally and concentrically ofthe cylindrical member 28 and is spaced from the latter. The

cylindrical member 35i is shorter than the cyy lindrical member 23 and is so positioned that its ends are spaced from the plates 2% and 35i. @ne end of the cylindrical member 33 is closed by means of a plate 3d which is fastened to the sleeve 25 and the other end of the cylindrical member 33 is closed by means of a plate 3c which is fastened to the rod 2i. Positioned internally of the cylindrical member 33, between its ends, is a plate 36 which is fastened to the end of the sleeve 25 and which acts to brace the structure and make the same more rigid. A length of wire 31 is wrapped in the form of a helix around the periphery of the cylindrical member 33 and the said wire has a diameter substantially equal to the width of the annular passageway between the cylindrical member 33 so that it will be in contact with both of said members.

During operation, a cooling fluid such as water isintroduced under pressure into the member2fl,

cordingly take place.

4 which acts as a conduit for the water, from any suitable source, not shown, and flows through the member into the bore 22 and then through the apertures 23 into the space between the plates 30 and 35. The cooling fluid then flows through the annular passageway between the cylindrical member 28 and the cylindrical member 33 and is constrained by the wrap of wire 3l in said passageway to follow a helical path so that all of the cooling fluid will be used efficiently and no undesirable channeling of the cooling duid will occur. A rapid and eiiicient cooling of the alkali cellulose particles being moved through the apparatus by the helical screw 32 will ac- The cooling uid next flows into the space between the plates 29 and Sli and from said space through apertures 38 in sleeve 25 into the annular discharge passageway between the conduit 24 and the sleeve 25 to the` drain of said sleeve.

To compress the alakli cellulose particles, there is provided, adjacent the discharge end of the apparatus, a stationary member 39 having a bore lili for the passage of the rod 2i and fastened by means of bolts 4l to the enlarged portion It.

" lindrical shell Il, is positioned concentrically of the member 39. As shown in the drawing, the discharge ends of the cylindrical shell Il and the cylindrical member 28 are beveled to thin lips so as to avoid placing any check on the movement of alkali-cellulose particles as the said particles are fed by the helical screw 32 into the annular passageway between the frusto-conical member lll and the frusto-conical section 43 of the member 39; l'lhe frusto-conical member 515 is supported by means of a plurality of rods 46 that extend through and are slideably mounted in the enlarged portion I6. The rods 45 are fastened to a plate 41 which is connected to piston rod @8 of a fluid-operated cylinder t9 that acts to urge the truste-conical member IM yieldably toward the member 39. The fluid-operated cylinder 49 is of the type in which the force may be readily varied, as desired by the operator, and in which the force will remain constant despite #y movement of the piston rod` t8 and the frusto conical member 44 connected thereto. The movement of the rods #i6 is limited by means of stops 5l fastened thereto. conical section 't3 of the member 39 and the frusto-conical member 4t are inclined inwardly, the cross-sectional area of the annular passageway between said members will tend to decrease toward the discharge end of the apparatus. In addition, the frusto-conical member 44 has a greater degree of taper than the frusto-conical section d3 of the member 39 so that the spacing between said members will decrease toward the discharge end of the apparatus and the cross# sectional area of the annular passageway between said members will decrease at a rapid rate.

As a result, when the alkali cellulose particles are forced `through said annular passageway,

against the pressure developed by the cylinder 49 upon the section 4, they will be compresesd.

The degree vof compression may be controlled byV Because the frustotureaofv andl compressing.: a mass of relatively;

vided,n with-` spaced motches ,so fas.V to` ,clear these@` 10;;

pins; The-cooling of the alkali kcellulose :particles Jin, ,theapparatusyinithis case, takesaplacee, with `increased; efliciency,V because, the .particles i areA `tumbled 3 about and brought into; 4contact ,ivi/ith;n the cooling ,surface duringtha-cooiinastep, t The.i apparatus may also beeriuipped withanxternal cooling jacket if desiredfin` any` conventional.;` manner.`

,It is to bev understood that `the, ,fcregoingdefv tailedidescription is giverimerely by'way of illus,. tration and that manyvariations maylbemade theneinwithout departingirom. the spirithf my invention.

Hav-ing` `described my invention, `what I desire` tdsecureby-Letters APatent is:

1 In an apparatus forchanging thetemperaftureroflandcompressing; a mass of` relatively` small, compressible particles, the, `combination with` La cylindrical shell,` of a Vrotatable .shaft ,exetendingaxially of saidcylindrical shel1,'a cylin? drical` member .mounted `on said shaft internally andconcentrically of` saidcylindrical shell and,` forming'with said ,l cylindrical shell an annular passageway,A through which the particlesv are adapted to pass, means for,bringingva,heatttrans-l fer medium into heat exchange relationship with the,.;p articles `as vtheylpass `through the annular` passageway,l and a pair, of` spaced inwardly` directed, frusta-conical members forming an annular passageway of. decreasing,,cross-sectional, area'positioned to receive the particlesandcomf press, the same` during their passage, therem through.

2.@ In `anapparatus, for changing` theftemperaf 45. snflalh.l com-pressible,AV particles,` 1 the.` combination-k with `a; cylindrical fshell,` of a rotatable ,shaft ex-,H tending AYaxially of said cylindrical shell, a, cylin-f drcal member, mounted on `said shaft,- internally-, andconcentrically of. said cylindrical 'Shelli-and.,A forming,` with f said cylindrical shell an l, annular passageway,` through which` the lparticles, areA adaptedtobe passed, means for bringinga heat; transfer .medium into heat exchangerelation. ship withitheparticles asthey are passed ,through the.; annular. passageway, and a pairl ofspaced,. inwardly-directed, ltruste-conical members formy ingganiannular passageway ci decreasingcrcsssl sectional area positionedto receive the particles,` andvcompress theY same during `their passage therethrough, theouter of` said frusto-conicaL members having a greater inward `taper than ,the` innen ofi` said `frusta-conical members whereby y the-cross-sectional area of the annularfpassage-l Waywbetween A,said .members decreases ,at a .rapid ,155g rate.-

3. In an apparatus for changing the tempera@Y ture of and compressing a rnass of relatively small, compres-sible; particles, ther combination with a cylindrical shell, of a rotatableshaft ex- 704,; tending, axially of -said cylindrical shell, a cylindrical `*member mounted onsaid-shaft internally` an'cl "lconcentrically" oitsaid "cylindrical shell"n andl forming with said cylindrical shell an annular passageway through which the particles are 75 with a cylindrical shell, of a rotatable shaften -1t(` ,y lleitetlmoneta r.and "means vieldaoly. ure

.ing ysaidyfrusto-conical 1: members 1relatiyely;v

cach othem Lifi-In anapparetusifor changing thertemperae@ ture-@ofL and compressing a-g; mass of: yrelativel smalln comppessiblel ,1 particles,. `the combinatie tendingmyaxially of said -cylindrical shell,` a` cylinsdricalifmember mounted on said shaft internally,v andgconcentrically of@ said cylindrical shell anda formingil ,with ,saidfcylin clricalk shell an'` yannulan zoapassageway; through which; the/. particles. are

adapted-tube passedmmeans ,for. bringing' aY heats` transfer` medium intorheat exchange ,relationshipVA with theI particles astheyfare passed through, theannular passageway, a-pair of spaced; rela-V tiyelyYA movable',` `inwardly-olirected frustofconical.

conicahmembers having la `greater inward taper,

inwardly `than, the inner. 011 said frustofconical; members whereby the crossf-sectionalarea of fthe, annular passageway between ysaid membersidee creasesat a rapid rate and .a.fluidfcperatedjpyle"` index` yieldably ,urging ksaid frustosconical mem?,

bers .relativelytoward `each other.

5'." In an apparatus for changing the,tempera, tureof Mand,compressing a mass ofjrelatively small,vv compressible particles, theV combination i' With-a cylindrical shell, of a, rotatable shaft ex*- tending axiallyof ,said cylindrical shell, 'aylin-,H drical member mounted -on said shaft internally and; concentrically ofsaid `cylindrical shell and( formingqwthaid cylindrical shell anHannular, passageway through" which the particlesare@ adaptedto be passed,` means for bringinga,heat` transfer-medium into. heat exchange relaticnfv shipwith theparticles as they are passed througllx,- the annular passageway, a .helical screwU of unie` form.` pitch extending around: the Yperiphery ci., the cylindrical rnember and extending ,Y radially.. outwardly therefrom. almost into` contact with thesinterior.` of the. cylindrical vshell forl passing., particles through the, annular passageway, rand,`

va `pair of. spaced, inwardly-directed, kfrusto--coni-- cal-members formingfan annular passageway, of..` decreasing,,cross-sectional Aarea `positioned "to `re: ceive `the particles andcompressthe. same dur.- inggtheir passage therethrough.

6.,', Ian apparatus for changing the tempera: ture .A of and compressing am mass of relatively; smali,compressible, particles,` the combination with acylindrical shelL ci arotatable shaft eX:V tending ,axially ot 'saidr cylindrical shell;` al cylihg 4drical, member mounted `on said "shaft" internally;`

and, concentrically', of said `cylindrical shell'` and] forming withl` said 4cylindrical shellv an annularf passageway through which the particles, ares. adapted ,tobepassed, means fonbringing a heat." transfer ,medium into heat exchange relationship7` withttlietparticlesas they are passed Athrough the 1. annular. passageway; a., helical l screw. of ,ulfiio'rrnn pitch' extending around the periphery of thecylindrical member and extending radially outwardly therefrom almost into contact with the interior of the cylindrical shell for passing the particles through the annular passageway, a pair of spaced, relatively movable, inwardly-directed, frusto-conical members forming an annular passageway of decreasing cross-sectional area Huid-operated cylinder yieldably urging said` frusto-conical members relatively toward each other.

7. In an apparatus for changing the temperature of and compressing a mass of relatively small, compressible particles, the combination with a cylindrical shell, of a rotatable shaft extending axially of said cylindrical shell, a cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and concentrically of said cylindrical shell and forming with said cylindrical shell an annulaipassageway through which the particles are adapted to be passed, a second cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and concentrically of said first cylindrical member and forming with said first cylindrical member a second annular passageway for bringing a heat transfer medium into heat exchange relationship with the particles as they are passed through the nrst annular passageway, and a pair of spaced, in wardly-directed, frusto-conical members forming an annular passageway of decreasing crosssectional area positioned to receive the particles and compress the same during their passage therethrough.

8. In an apparatus for changing the temperature of and compressing a mass of relatively small, compressible particles, the combination with a cylindrical shell, of a rotatable shaft ex- Y tending axially of said cylindrical shell, a cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and concentrically of said cylindrical shell and forming with said cylindrical shell an annular passageway through which the particles are adapted to be passed, a second cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and concentrically of said first cylindrical member and forming with said first cylindrical member a second annular passageway for bringing a heatY transfer medium into heat exchange relationship with the particles as they are passed through the rst annular passageway, the rotatable shaft having a passageway extending longitudinallyV press the same during their passage therethrough.

9. In an apparatus for changing the temperature of and compressing a mass of relatively small, compressible particles, the combination with a cylindrical shell, of a rotatable shaft extending axially of said cylindrical shell, a cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and concentrically of said cylindrical shell and forming with said cylindrical shell an annular passageway through which the particles are adapted to be passed, a second cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and con' centrically of said rst cylindrical member and forming with said first cylindrical member a second annular passageway for bringing a heat transfer medium into heat exchange relationship with the particles as they are passed through the first annular passageway, a helical wire wrap extending around the periphery of the second cylindrical member for directing said medium in a helical path in said second annular passageway, and a pair of spaced, inwardly-directed, frusto-conical members forming an annular passageway of decreasing cross-sectional area positioned to receive the particles and compress the same during their passage therethrough.

10. In an apparatus for changing the temperature of and compressing a mass of relatively small, compressible particles, the combination with a cylindrical shell, of a rotatable shaft extending axially of said cylindrical shell, a cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and concentrically of said cylindrical shell and forming with said cylindrical shell an annular passageway through which the particles are adapted to be passed, a helical screw of uniform pitch extending around the periphery of the cylindrical member almost into Contact with the interior of the cylindrical shell for passing the particles through the annular passageway, a second cylindrical member mounted on said shaft internally and concentrically of said rst 'cylindrical member and forming with said rst cylindrical member a second annular passageway for bringing a heat transfer medium into heat exchange relationship with the particles as they are passed through the rst annular passageway, a helical wire wrap extending around the periphery of the second cylindrical member for f* directing said medium in a helical path in said' second annular passageway, the rotatable shaft having a passageway extending longitudinally thereof and communicating with the second annular passageway for introducing the heat transfer medium into the second annular passageway, a sleeve mounted concentrically on said shaft and spaced therefrom and communicating with the second annular passageway for discharging the heat transfer medium from the second annular passageway, a pair of spaced, Vinwardly-directed, frusto-conical, relatively movable members forming an annular passageway of decreasing crosssectional area positioned to receive the particles and compress the same during their passage therethrough, the outer of said rusto-conical members having a greater inward taper than the inner of said frusto-conical members whereby the cross-sectional area of the annular passageway between said members decreases at a rapid rate, and a huid-operated cylinder yieldably urging said frusto-conical members relatively toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date y 1,750,916 Anderson et al. Mar. 18, 1930 

